Tom Green County Divorce Records

Tom Green County divorce records are filed and kept at the District Clerk's office in San Angelo. If you need to search for a divorce case, get a certified copy of a Final Decree of Divorce, or confirm that a divorce was filed in the county, the District Clerk is the right office to contact. The county handles all family law filings through its district courts. Online access, in-person visits, and mail requests are all available options for getting the records you need.

Tom Green County District Clerk

The Tom Green County District Clerk is located on the first floor of the courthouse in San Angelo. This office maintains all divorce records for the county, including family law case files, civil records, and criminal district court records. The clerk handles both requests for existing records and new case filings.

Tom Green County has four district courts: the 51st, 119th, 340th, and 391st District Courts. Any of these can hear divorce cases depending on how the county assigns dockets. Staff at the District Clerk's office can help you find which court handled a specific case. Online records search is available, though full document access may require an in-person request for some older files.

The Tom Green County Clerk, a separate office at 124 W. Beauregard Ave., handles marriage licenses, real property records, and probate matters. Their reference line is (915) 659-6553. For divorce records specifically, always contact the District Clerk.

The Texas Judicial Branch website at txcourts.gov provides access to court resources that apply across all Texas counties, including Tom Green County, such as standardized divorce forms and court rules.

The site includes Supreme Court Approved Divorce Forms, self-help guides, and links to county-level District Clerk offices across the state.

How to Search Tom Green County Divorce Records

You can search Tom Green County divorce records online or in person. The District Clerk offers a public records search on its website. You can search civil and family law cases by name or case number. Some records are fully available online. Others may need you to visit the office to get document copies.

To search, you need the full name of one or both parties to the divorce. An approximate year helps narrow things down if the name is common. If you have the case number, the search is much faster. You can also use the statewide re:SearchTX system to look up case index information before contacting the District Clerk directly.

For in-person visits, go to the courthouse at 112 W. Beauregard Ave. in San Angelo. Bring a photo ID and the names of both parties. Staff can make copies on the spot. Mail requests work for those who cannot visit in person. Send a written request to Tom Green County District Clerk, 112 W. Beauregard Ave., San Angelo, TX 76903. Include the names, the approximate date of the divorce, the case number if known, and payment for any copy fees.

Note: Older records not yet digitized may take more time to retrieve. Call ahead at (325) 659-6579 if you are unsure whether a specific record is available in digital form.

Tom Green County Divorce Fees

Filing fees in Tom Green County are set by state law. Most divorce petitions cost in the range of $300 or more to file, depending on case type and required surcharges. Cases involving children may be slightly higher. These fees cover the filing, required state surcharges, and court facility costs.

Copies of court documents typically cost $1 per page. Certified copies require an additional $5 certification fee per document. A name search without a case number usually has a $5 search fee. All fees apply whether you request in person or by mail.

If paying is a hardship, you can file a Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 145. Official Texas divorce forms are available free at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms. The Texas DSHS also offers a divorce verification letter for $20 through dshs.texas.gov/vital-statistics for divorces from 1968 to present, though it does not contain the full decree.

Divorce Filing in Tom Green County

All divorce filings in Tom Green County follow Texas Family Code Chapter 6. To file here, one spouse must have lived in Texas for six months and in Tom Green County for at least 90 days before filing. This residency rule comes from Texas Family Code § 6.301.

Texas is a no-fault divorce state. The most common ground is insupportability under Texas Family Code § 6.001, which means the marriage has broken down and cannot be fixed. Fault grounds are also available. These include cruelty under § 6.002, adultery under § 6.003, abandonment under § 6.005, and conviction of a felony under § 6.004. Most couples in Tom Green County use the no-fault ground to keep the process simpler.

After filing, the other spouse is served with the Original Petition for Divorce. Texas law requires a 60-day waiting period before the court can grant the divorce, under Texas Family Code § 6.702. Exceptions exist when family violence is involved. Once the waiting period ends, agreed cases can close quickly. Contested matters go to mediation or a court hearing.

Tom Green County follows Texas community property rules under Texas Family Code Chapter 7. Property acquired during the marriage is split in a just and right manner. The West Texas Collection at Angelo State University has historical records for older divorce cases, and the Tom Green County Library genealogy department also holds microfilm records that can help with older research.

What Tom Green County Divorce Records Contain

Divorce records in Tom Green County include the full case file. The core document is the Final Decree of Divorce, which contains the court's orders on property, debt, custody, child support, and any other terms. The original petition, service papers, any temporary orders, and financial affidavits are also part of the file.

Most of these records are public. You do not need to be a party to the case to request copies. Sealed documents or those protected by court order are not available. For cases involving minor children, some portions of the record may have access restrictions. If you have questions about what is in a specific file, call the District Clerk at (325) 659-6579 before requesting copies.

Legal Resources for Tom Green County

Legal help is available in the San Angelo area for people going through a divorce. The State Bar of Texas runs a lawyer referral service at (800) 252-9690. You can also search for local family law attorneys at texasbar.com.

TexasLawHelp at texaslawhelp.org has self-help guides for divorce and family law cases. Official Texas divorce forms approved by the Texas Supreme Court are at txcourts.gov/rules-forms/forms and are free to use. Lone Star Legal Aid may also be able to help qualifying individuals with low income at lonestarlegal.org.

Cities in Tom Green County

Tom Green County includes San Angelo and smaller surrounding communities. All divorce cases filed by residents of these areas go through the Tom Green County District Court.

San Angelo is the county seat and where the courthouse is located. Other communities in Tom Green County include Grape Creek, Wall, and Veribest. Note that city-level offices do not handle divorce cases. Divorce records are only at the District Clerk's office at the county level.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Tom Green County. If you are not certain which county to file in, confirm your home address is in Tom Green County before filing.